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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTIONS 100 TO 900 100 General Provisions 110 Purpose of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 100 General Provisions 110 Purpose of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP MANUAL 12/01/98 The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 authorizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Section 2 of the Act states in part: “It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress, in order to promote the general welfare, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households. Congress hereby finds that the limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition among members of such households. Congress further finds that increased utilization of food in establishing and maintaining adequate national levels of nutrition will promote the distribution in a beneficial manner of the Nation’s agricultural abundance and will strengthen the Nation’s agricultural economy, as well as result in more orderly marketing and distribution of foods. To alleviate such hunger and malnutrition, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is herein authorized which will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.” TO SUMMARIZE: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is designed to increase the limited food purchasing power of low-income households and thus alleviate hunger and malnutrition. 120 Use of SNAP Benefits SNAP MANUAL 12/01/98 Participating households may use their supplemental nutrition assistance benefits at retail stores authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), to accept SNAP benefits. A household may purchase only eligible foods with SNAP benefits. Eligible foods include plants and seeds that the household may use to grow food. Ineligible items which cannot be purchased with supplemental nutrition assistance benefits include alcoholic beverages, household products, tobacco, pet foods, and other non-food items. At grocery stores with delicatessens,